CRAT Pacemaker Rhythm Analysis 2

Question 1

A pacemaker spike followed by a wide, abnormal QRS complex indicates what type of pacing?

Accepted Answer

Ventricular pacing with successful capture

Answer

A pacemaker spike immediately followed by a wide QRS complex confirms ventricular pacing with successful capture — the pacemaker stimulus has successfully depolarized the ventricular myocardium.

Question 2

Pacemaker failure to capture is identified by which ECG finding?

Accepted Answer

Pacemaker spikes visible without subsequent QRS complexes

Answer

Failure to capture occurs when the pacemaker fires (spike visible) but the electrical stimulus fails to depolarize the myocardium, so no QRS complex follows the spike.

Question 3

Pacemaker oversensing causes which problem?

Accepted Answer

Inappropriate inhibition of pacing pulses due to sensing signals that are not cardiac in origin

Answer

Oversensing occurs when the pacemaker incorrectly interprets non-cardiac signals (muscle potentials, electromagnetic interference) as intrinsic cardiac activity, inhibiting appropriate pacing and causing bradycardia.

Question 4

The NBG (NASPE/BPEG) pacemaker code uses letters to describe pacemaker function. In a VVI pacemaker, what does the second 'V' indicate?

Accepted Answer

The ventricle is the sensed chamber

Answer

In the NBG code, the first letter indicates the paced chamber, the second letter indicates the sensed chamber. In VVI, the second V means the ventricle is the sensed chamber.

Question 5

In a DDD pacemaker, what does the first 'D' represent?

Accepted Answer

Both atrium and ventricle are paced (dual chamber pacing)

Answer

In DDD mode, the first D indicates that both the atrium and ventricle can be paced (dual chamber pacing), making it the most physiologic pacemaker mode.

CRAT - Certified Rhythm Analysis Technician Practice Test

CRAT - Certified Rhythm Analysis Technician Practice Test

CRAT Pacemaker Rhythm Analysis 2